A live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” topped the Memorial Day weekend box office 35 years after the animated story of Ariel, a flame-haired siren of the sea who falls in love with a prince, enchanted moviegoers. It is the eighth highest Memorial Day opening ever.

With Halle Bailey playing the lead role, Rob Marshall’s live-action “Little Mermaid”. The evil sea witch Ursula, played by Melissa McCarthy, snatches Ariel’s voice in exchange for giving her legs and the opportunity to fall in love with the ethereal Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). The cast is completed by Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, and Javier Bardem.

Halle herself contributed to the film’s success by attending a screening in full disguise. She recorded the events on TikTok, allowing her over two million followers to witness how she managed to blend into the crowd. Halle put on a face mask and sunglasses to disguise her face.

During an interview with Glamour magazine, the 23 year old actress, talked about black representation in the film. Halle discussed the emotional footage of young girls witnessing a black woman as a Disney princess, as well as how she managed to maintain her own identity while shooting.

When asked about the videos, Halle said ‘When I saw those for the first time, I just cried. I was sobbing uncontrollably.’ She related the experience to Anika Noni Rose’s performance as Tiana in The Princess and the Frog in 2009, saying: ‘The fact that these babies are looking at me and feeling the emotions that they’re feeling is a really humbling, beautiful thing.’ She further said, ‘I know how much of that movie changed my whole perspective on life. Wow, this is possible. Black princesses are possible.’ We deserve to take up these spaces too.’